Cheryl Richards Quintet: “Another Spring” (2022) CD Review

Jazz vocalist Cheryl Richards puts her own delightful spin on some standards on her new album, Another Spring. She and the other musicians take these well-known numbers and make them fresh, make them breathe, make them dance. There is something loose and immediate about the style here, like a live recording. The quintet is made up of Cheryl Richards on vocals, Nick Lyons on alto saxophone, Adam Caine on guitar, Adam Lane on bass, and Vijay Anderson on drums. Both Nick Lyons and Adam Caine also played on Cheryl Richards’ 2015 album If Not For You. Adam Lane and Vijay Anderson have played together in the Adam Lane Trio and Adam Lane’s Blue Spirit Band.

The album opens with a sweet, pretty, yet playful rendition of Irving Berlin’s “The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On).” There is a somewhat loose and cheerful approach, which makes it feel like we’re in the room. These musicians deliver the song at a faster pace than is often done, and there is an excellent lead on guitar, followed by a light, wonderful lead on alto saxophone, and then a cool lead on bass. As I mentioned, it all does feel like a live performance, including the way the track concludes. And there is something rather friendly about the sound, particularly Cheryl’s vocal performance. Then “Love Me Or Leave Me” begins on drums. And when Cheryl Richards comes in, her voice is supported by just drums. What a wonderful and unusual take on this song! In the middle there is a drum solo. This track is a highlight for me, and it certainly gives us a fresh perspective on this familiar song. “My Melancholy Baby” also has a loose vibe, feeling like it’s being improvised, which, again, gives the song a freshness. Cheryl Richards delivers some breathy scat, which is delightful. She is clearly having a good time, and that helps the music feel new. Another part of what gives this track its loose feel is the lack of bass and drums. And that makes the saxophone feel even freer during its lead. This track also features a guitar solo, which follows that lead on sax.

One of the album’s best vocal performances is that on “Mood Indigo.” Here she is supported by guitar and bass at the beginning, and her voice is beautiful, holding us captivated. Just listen to the way she delivers the lines “In the evening when the lights are low/I’m so lonesome I could cry/‘Cause there’s nobody who cares about me/I’m just a fool who’s bluer than can be/When I get that mood indigo/I could lay me down and die,” the way she runs them together. Everything feels so natural, so true, so right. And following those lines, the saxophone enters for a rather wild, emotional lead, while the guitar and bass maintain a cool, solid rhythm. That in turn is followed by some fantastic work on guitar, featuring some surprising touches. Again, the song feels fresh. This is one of my personal favorites. Things then get moving with the quintet’s rendition of “It’s You Or No One.” On this one, Cheryl Richards delivers some playful, breathy scat. It is like the music carries her away. And if you let it, it will do the same thing for you. I love that section where the saxophone and bass seem to be moving together, dancing together. The bass work, in particular, is something to enjoy here. This track also includes a drum solo, so of course it is another highlight for me. The quintet has a delightfully spirited approach to this song.

On “Love You Madly,” Cheryl Richards is again having a completely wonderful time, like a cheerful sprite spreading love among the mortals through her song. It seems she takes some inspiration from Ella Fitzgerald’s rendition, but adds another dose of pep here. “You’d know the breath of spring/That makes me sing/My love song so loudly.” Ah yes, everything about this song, and this entire album, feels so natural, so spontaneous. I especially like that lead on guitar, while the bass seems to express a sort of wisdom, holding everything together and keeping it moving while the others dance about. That’s followed by “All About You/How About You.” This one begins with Cheryl Richards delivering some scat, her voice and the saxophone together performing the “All About You” line composed by Lennie Tristano, supported by bass. And then they go into “How About You,” those opening lines always reminding me of The Fisher King (one of my favorite movies). And everything I’m hearing from Cheryl Richards makes me think she would fit right into the world of that film, easily slipping into the joyful fantasy part of it, I mean. And check out that great bass solo. At the end of the track, she and the saxophone team up again as she delivers more scat. Then “There Will Never Be Another You” moves at a good clip, her voice as from the most delightful dream, moving through the life of the song as if it were a dream. I am particularly fond of the drum work here, and that guitar lead is excellent.

The first line of “More Than You Know” is delivered a cappella, and then the saxophone joins her, and the song is an engaging duet for a minute or so, before the others come in. At that point, the song settles into a late-night romantic groove that is wonderful. This track features another beautiful vocal performance, as well as a pretty lead on saxophone. That’s followed by “Nature Boy,” which begins with a bass solo. Then as Adam Lane switches to the bow, Cheryl Richards comes in on vocals. This is another unexpected approach; it is compelling and fascinating and exciting. “And then one day/One magic day he came my way” Everything about this album has a touch of magic about it, but this track in particular is kind of stunning. I got so caught up in it that I was surprised when it ended, shaken out of its spell. The album then concludes with Charlie Parker’s “Cheryl,” Cheryl Richards once again delivering some playful scat. On this track she is supported by saxophone and guitar. There is a good deal of joy to the performance.

CD Track List

1. The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On)
2. Love Me Or Leave Me
3. My Melancholy Baby
4. Mood Indigo
5. It’s You Or No One
6. Love You Madly
7. All About You/How About You
8. There Will Never Be Another You
9. More Than You Know
10. Nature Boy
11. Cheryl

Another Spring was released on October 15, 2022 on New Artists Records.